Snow-melting machine and method of operating same.



S. FRIEDMAN. SNOW MELTING MACHINE AND METHOD 0? OPERATING SAME.

APPLIGATION FILED JAN. 12, 1911.

999,%45, Patented Aug. 1,1911.

' ATTORNEYS arr -A ran rrrc.

SAMUEL FRIEDMAN, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

ames.

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL FRIEDMAN, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident the construction of snow melting or snow removing machines and the method of operating the same so that the snow or ice can readily be removed from the streets of cities and converted into a slush which can easily be removed from the machine at a very small expense.

To the accomplishment of the above objects, and to such others as may hereinafter appear, the invention comprises means for feeding snow, ice and the like to a tank which is arranged to-receive from another tank water containing a small percentage of salt or similar substance which will convert the snow or ice into a slush and prevent the snow or ice as it mixes with the water in the tank from adhering together to form lumps which are difiicult to melt or to convert into a slush so that the same can be removed.

I will now proceed to describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, and will then point out the novel features in claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 shows more or less diagrammatically a longitudinal Vertical section of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 shows a plan view of the machine partly in section.

In the drawings 1 designates the receiving tank and 2 a chute having within it a conveyer 3 for sweeping snow, ice or the like from the street into the chute and thence conveying same up the chute to the tank 1, which is arranged to hold a quantity of snow or ice dumped by the conveyer. From experience it has been found that it is very diflicult to turn the snow into water by means of heat alone, and it is alsopractically impossible to convert the snow or ice into a slush by dumping the snow or ice into water; but I have found that if the snow or ice is sprayed with water which contains a small Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 12, 1911. Serial No. 602,181.

Patented Aug. fl, 1911.

percentage of salt or analogous substance,

the snow or ice sprayed with salt water will readily turn into slush and will not adhere together and form lumps as is the case when water without salt is used.

In order to supply a suitable amount of salt water to the receiving tank, a spraying tank 4 is provided, which is situated in the top of the .receiving tank 1, as clearly shown in Fig. -1. The tank 4 is provided in the present instance with two outlets at the bottom which are designated 5 and 6, through which the salt solution contained in the tank 4 is sprayed into the receiving tank 1 so as to come in contact with the snow or ice, which is dumped into the receiving tank by the conveyer, and turn the same into slush. In the present instance, the outlet 5 is provided with a universal connection so that the outlet can be moved in dilferent directions, a rod 7 being provided for controlling the movements of the same. The outlets are also provided with valves 8 operated through the medium -of suitable levers 9 and 10 by means of which the flow of the solution through the valves can be regulated. In the present instance the upper part of the spraying tank 4: is pro-- vided with a supply box 11 which is provided with a door 12, and is adapted to hold salt or other analogous substance 13 which in the present instance is made in the form of small blocks or bricks, which permit of the same being readily removed and inserted in the tank tthrough the door 14 when it is desired to increase the strength of the liquid in the spraying tank 4.

The conveyer 3 used for delivering snow or ice to tank 1, in the present instance comprises a plurality of plates 15 secured to an endless link chain or belt 16'the same being driven by means of an endless chain or belt 25. At its lower end, the chute 3 is provided with a plow 17 adapted to scrape up snow, ice, etc., from the street so that the same can be engaged by the plates 15 of the conveyer as shown in Fig.1. In the present instance the plow consists of a flat plate which is pivoted at its upper edge to the end of the chute 2 by means of a suitable hinge 18, the plow being held in a vertical position by means of spring 19 connected to the same'through the medium of the levers 20 and 21 which are pivoted together at 22 as shown in Fig; 1. From the above it will be seen that if the plow l7 suitable controllinglo-snow or ice to the tank 1, whereupon the person operating the spraying tank will per- I mit the salt solution to be sprayed upon the snow or ice in the receiving tank and converts the same into a slush, it being customary for the operator who stands upon the stand 30 to stir the slush from time to time by means of a suitable tool which can be inserted through the door 31. When the tank is filled with slush the door 26 at the baok'of the tank is opened and the slush permitted to run out, after which the door is closed and the tank again filled with snow or ice which is converted into slush asbefore described. If desired, the tank 1 can be heated, suitable means 27 being provided for this purpose, but ordinarily I prefer to operate the machine without the addition of heat. 7

While the invention has been described with particular reference to the details of construction and operation, the same is not to be considered as limited thereto, as many changes may be made and still fall within the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is 1. A snow removlng apparatus comprising in combination a receiving tank, a chute,

and means in said chute for conveying snow to said tank, a plow secured to the end of said chute, and spring acting means secured to said plow to permit the same to pass ob structions, as and for the purposes set forth.

2. A snow removing apparatus comprising in combination a receiving tank, a chute, means in said chute for conveying snow to said tank, another tank arranged in proximity to said receiving tank, arranged to hold a salt solution, and means for deliver- LEO J. MATTY, D; A. DAVIES. 

